Curtain-stretcher.



J. D. MASON. CURTAIN STRETGHBR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1909.

925.366, Patented June 15, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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44 .4J WA4? atta/nu,

J. D. MASON.

CURTAIN STRETGHER.

APPLIOATION FILED 11213.11, 1909.

f PaxentedJune 15, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET, 2.

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To alt whomy it mayl concern:

JAMES n. MA'soN,.or GLADYS, vIRGINIA.

` CURTAIN-srnnronnn;

Specification of'Letters Patent,

Patented .time i5, 190e.

Application led February 11, 1909. Serial No. 477,310.

Be it'known that l', JAMES D. MASON, a citizen ot't'lie United States of America, residing at Gladys, in the county of Campbell and State of Virginia, have invented iie\v and useful improvements 'in Curtain- Stretchers, of which the following is a.l

specification.

This invention relates to improvements in curtain-stretchers, ventioir is to provide a curtainstretcher through the medium of which curtains after being washed may be stretched Without liabilitj)7 of becoming torp, and, furthermore, the invention contemplates the provision of a curtain-siietchei'provided with coperating parts whereby the stretcher may be folded .or collapsed whennot in use so as to occupy a ininin'i-uni anion-nt of space,

A further object of the invention is'to provide a curtaiii-stretcher ,which is seconstriicted as to adapt itself for use in a vertical or a horizontal posi-tion as desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a curtain-stretcher wherein the use oit' pins-or other inents is entirely obviated, and wherein 'the clasps retainingl the curtain exert a firm grasp upon the same but entirely obviate tlie'liability orn the tearing of theY curtain.

W ith the above, ,and other objects in view which will appear asthe description progresses, the;in\f'ention lresides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully describedl and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings there has 'Led a simple and preferred embodinient-otl the invention, and in which:

liigure .l is a top plan view of 'the device showing the saine in its operative position. Fig. -2 is an end vieu' ofgthe saine, taken upon a reduced scale. Eig. 3 isa sectional view upon the line 3 3A of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is' a top plan view showing the device in its folded position. Fig. 5 is an end view of the device in its folded position. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectionalview through one 'of lthe clasp members.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 designates lthe stretcher proper. This stretcher comprises four L-shaped members designated by the numerals 2,3, 4l and 5.

'The stretcherk when setup in its operative position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 `of 'the drawings, present a substantially recandthe object. of the inpointed retaining eletions 2 and 5 bein lthe opposite sections 3 the end members ot' the seeconnected through vthe medium. of a suita le hinge 6 and the end portions of the members 3 and being con4 nected' through' the medium of a hinge 7, While the longitudinal side .members of the sections 2, 3, 4E and -5,'are also connected through the medium of suitable hinges -8 positioned upon the under facesiot the said sections when the'de'vice is in its operative position. 1 The hinge member 6 has-one of its knuckles arranged upon the end of sec' tion 2, while the coperatring knuckles of the hinge are, arranged upon the opposite section. 2. The knuckles are pivotally contangular frame,

Inected through the medium of a removable piiitle 9, and itwill be noted'that by with;

drawing the pint-le,9,'tliesections .2 and 5 may be folded beneath the sections 3 and 4,'

and when in such a position the sections 3 ande may be tolded upon the hinge, 7 so as to 'arrange the tranie'of vthe device in a compact L-shaped structure as illustrated in Fi'g. 4 of the drawings.

When the frame is in its operative position -it is effectively sustained from collapsing through the medium ofsuitable hooksv andeye's 10.and 11 arranged upon the meeting edgesof the members as clearly illus- 'trated in the figures' of the drawings. In order to more securely sustain the frame in its operative position one or more of the sections, sa)7 2 and 4 may be arranged with a pivoted rod 12 having its free end offset and adapted to engage with an eye 13 provided upon the under face ofeither or both o and 5. The corners ot' each. of the sections, 2, 3, 4,' land 5 are provided with suitable bores which are adapted to receive the upper reduced 'extremities of legs 14. this arrangement it will. be' notedthat the device may be sustained in the horizontal position if desired. and that'by merely removing the legs from their bores or sockets, the i'ranie'inay be sustained. in an inclined' or vertical position. The inner 'faces of the cndportionsof thesections 2 and 5 as Well as the inner faces of the sides. of the sections 2 and 3 are each provided with alininggrooves or recesses designated by thenumeral 15. These grooves 15 are each provided with a depending flange upon their outer portions as desig natcd by the-numeral 16. The members.' forming the flanges 16. are 4pieiteralol-7 con stiucted of strips of sheet metal secured to the section members Iabove the grooves through the medium ofdetachable threaded elements 17. The grooves 16 are adapted for the reception of the clasp' members 13.

'Each of these clasp members 13-.compr`ise a lower oi' body portion 2O which is substan tially rectangular in formation and has one of its ends provi :d with an enlargement` adapted for reception within the grooves 15, and the upper face of this enlargement is rovided with a transverse groove 21 which is adapted to be engaged by the depending flange of the plates 16. The base is provided with a catch member 22 having its sides provided with ears 23 which are adapted to straddle and to be pivotally connected with the sides of the base 20. This clasp engao'ing member 22 has its outer end bent at an angle so as to provide a gripping face 24 While positioned between the "outer face of the clasp member 22 and the upper face of the body 20 is a suitable pressure spring 25,

which is adapted to exert upward pressure upon the claspv and force its gripping face 24 tightly against the upper face ofthe member 20.' In order to provide a smooth bearing for the face 24 and also to prevent thel Isame `from 'tearing or mutilating the curtains to bel engaged by the' clasp,

20 is provided with a transversely arrang groove which is adapted for the receptionof a strip of flexible material ,such as rubber or the like, and ,designated by the' numeral 26. lBy this arrangement it will be' lnoted that a certain amount of compression is allowed to the gripping face of the clasp, member and which will entirely obviate the tearing or mutilation ofthe curtain engaged by the clasp. It will be further seen that byconstructing the clasp as above described the danger of the person applying the curtain tothe frame. priclring his hands from the pointed retaining elements commonly employed in connection with curtain-stretchers is entirely overcome.

The oppositefends of the able securing devices 27 and 28. .The member 27 comprises a pair of centrally pivoted bars 29 and 30. These bars are provided with grooves and retaining plates similar to those previously described, and arealso provided with slidable clasp members'constructed and arranged as are the members 18.

The,ends of the bars 29 and 30are slidably mounted in= suitable grooves provided by the side members 3 and 4 and the said'dwbars are vsustained in horizontal position, as illustrated in Fig. l, through themedium of a hook 31 pivotally connected with the bar 30 an eye 32l connected with the. bar. 29. y reference to Fig'l of the drawings it ywill-be noted that the hinged member contlie body frame sections. as well asy the opposite side sections of the frame sections are each provided with mov-- necting the bars 29 and 30 .is arranged in a direct plane with the hinge 7 connecting the L-shaped sections-3 and 4, so it will be read ily understood that the bars 29 and 30 may be'folded with the-sections 3 and 4 when it is desired-to collapsethe device.

Mounted in suitable bearings 23 provided upon the outer faces of the ends of the `L- shaped sections 3 and 4 are a pair of shafts 34 and 35. One of these shafts 35 is provided with an enlarged recess portion having oppositely cut away faces as indicated by the numeral 36, while the opposite shaft,l

. able orifices through which the flexible members 39 are free to pass, and the free ends of these elements are connected to the bars 29 and 30 as indicated by the numeral 40. The shaft 35 extendsa suitable distance beyond the outer bracket 33, and this extendingportion is flattened or otherwise-non-circular in cross section so as to provide a hold for asuitable oifset crank or handle member (not shown). By thisarrangernent it will be noted that as the shaft 35 is rotated it will in turn rotate the shaft 34 causing the .flexible elements 39 to draw the bars 29 and 30 toward the ends of the sections 3 and 4,

4thereby drawing the end of the curtain toward the end of the sections 3 and 4 thus ef fectively stretching the curtain longitudinally. In

order to retain the bars 29 and 30 y' in their proper position upon the frame Y when stretching a curtain, the shaft`35 is provided with a toothed wheel'41 and the end of the section 4 is provided with a suitable pawl 42 which is adapted to be swunginto engagement between the teeth of the wheel 41, thereby effectively preventing the rotation of the shafts orthe forward nuove-l ment of the bars.29 and 30.

The securing device 2S is substantially similar to that of the device just described, comprising a pair of bars 43 and 44 hingedly connected at their centers and mounted at .their ends within suitable guidew'ays` provided by the ends of the sections of the frame. The 'members 43 and 44 are sustained in proper alinement with each other through the medium of a hook provided provided upon the opposite member at their points of connection., The si'des of the sections 4 and 5 are provided with a plurality of brace members which are adapted for the upon one of the members engaging an eye 'stretcher for lace means for sustaining' the frame in itsy spread -nection with the accompanying drawings, it

'for'storage or' shipment, one whereby-the nected together, one of the hinges having its bers arranged in these grooves at `right- Ibars hingedly Aspread position,

reception of `a pair of shafts 45v l These shafts l45 and 46 are simi-lar in`conf struction to the shafts 34 and 3,5, one ha ing l its' end enlarged .and provided with o po-l site'ly .disposed recesses adapted for the re-. ception of'oppositely disposed pins provided xpon the coperating shaft. The shafts 45 and 46 are also provided With suitable drums upon which are Wound fsuitable'cables engaging the bars 43 and-44. One of the shafts, 46, has its end projecting a suitable distance beyond its outer bearing and this end yis adapted for the reception of a suitable handle whereby the shafts'may be rotated.'l The shaft 46 is also provided with atothedwheel 47 and the frame 4 is provided with a pivoted pawl 48 which is adapted t'o engage between the teeth of the Wheel 47 thereby and 46. r

v. their inner faces effectively preventing the rotation of the 3 shafts 45 and 46 and securing the members t f .43' and 44 in a desired position upon the frame thus retaining. the curtainv'engaged by the clasps' carried by the members 43 and 44 in a' desired stretched position. v From the above description, taken in conwill be noted that I have provided an extremely simple and' thoroughly effective curtains, one which may be and folded into small space readily collapsed most` delicate curtain may be effectively stretched Without dangerof tearing or otherwise damaging, one Which may be effectively employed either ina horizontal or in a vertical position as desired, and one which may be manufactured at a comparatively small cost.

Having thus described the invention, What lis claimed as neW, is: 4

1. In a device for the purpose set forth, a substantially rectangular frame .composed o'f four L'- shaped members hingedly con-v knuckles provided With a removable pintle,

position, the inner faces ofthe sections being provided with grooves,

slidable clasp mem angles to each other, stretching membersv within tl1e',opposite grooves, clasp members'v upon these stretching members, said "stretching members being arranged at right angles to each other and each comprising a pair of connected together, meansl for sustaining thesebars in their spread posione side of the frame. y

2. In a device for'the purpose set forth, a rectangular frame comprised of four lL- shaped sections hingedly connected together, a removable pintle for one of the hinges, means for sustaining the sections in their face, a iiexible bearing the stretching members in any desired posithe inner faces of the sections being provided With longitudinally eX- t tending grooves, slidable clasp members arranged Within two of the alining grooves at right angles to each other, stretching members'slidably mounted within the opposite grooves andarranged atright angles to cach other,

.each of, said members comprising la pair. of -bars hingedly connected together, each of said stretching members having provided with grooves, slidable clasp members Within these grooves, andmeans for drawing the members toward one en d and one si'de of the frame. i c 8. Iny a device ofthe character described, a substantially rectangular frame composed of four -shaped` sections hingedly connectedv together, means yfor vsustaining the sections in their spread position, each of said sections having its inner face provided With longitudinally .extending grooves, the inner aces-of two of the right angularly arranged side andV endsections being provided With depending lips partially closing thev openings provided by the grooves, clasp members 1 each provided with an enlarged headl having a transverse depression adaptedto be positioned Within the grooves', and the depression to be engaged by the lip, said clasp members being provided with a pivoted securing member havingan offset engaging for this offset portion, va `spring `nornAu-llly port-ion into engagement with the iexible bearing, the opposite grooves of the frame sections being ing members, clasp members upon the stretching members, each of said stretching members comprising a pair of hinged bars, means for sust-ammg'the hinged bars in their spread position, and means for forcing the stretching members .toward the side and end vof the frame respectively, and for sustaining tion upon the frame.

411 a rectangular' frame composed of four L- shaped sections hingedly connected together, means for sustaining the sections'in their spread position, slidable clasp meinbers arrangedupon one ofthe side and one 'ofthe end. members of the frame, stretching membersarranged upon -the opposite side and .end portion of the Iframe, said stretching 'niem'be'rs'being each constructed of a pair of'bars hiri'ged'lyconnected together, means for sustaining the bars in their spread position, spring actuated clasp members slidably forcing the oHset provided with slidable stretch- I connected with the stretching .1 ncmbers;

bearings upon the outer faces of the side and end-portions of the frame adjacent the stretching membersshafts for these bearings, the shafts upon the side andend of the tramebeing each constructed of a pair of members, one having 'an enlarged mouth provided with oppositely disposed cut away portions, and the opposite .being provided with offsetsadapted toerig-ege withinvthe cli-t the teeth ofithelv'vheels, and means for I'oawny portions when the sectonsare swung tilting the shaft-s. A 1G into operative position, vl-drums upon the In testnnon whereof I affix my signature shn'fts,1eXib1e members'up'on the drums con-4 in presence 'o' two Witnesses.

A toothed.- Wheels' upon the shafts, catch mem- Vitnesses:

nectng the Asectional stretching members,v 'l JAMES D. MASON.

bers pivotally connected with the .frame and JN0. G; HAYTH; v adapted lto'. be swung into engagement with EVA C. READ. 

